Combined chair and step-ladder



(No Model.)

- W. H. WHITE. COMBINED CHAIR AND STEP LADDER.

No. 514,876. Patented Feb. 13, 1894.

- INVENTOR, a 50-.

"ulna,

WITN ESSES NITED PATENT OFFICE;

WILLIAM HARGRAVE WHITE, OF ROME, GEORGIA.

COMBINED CHAIR AND STEP-LADD ER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 514,876, dated February13, 1894.

Application filed March 13, 1893. Serial No. 465,797. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HARGRAVE WHITE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Rome, in the county of Floyd and State of Georgia,have invented a new anduseful Combined Chair and Step-Ladder, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of combined chairs and step-laddersembodying two pivotally connected sections which when folded form achair, and when opened provide a step-ladder.

The object of my invention is to provide an article 'of this-characterin which the base or support has all its parts solid or rigid, whetherthe device is closed or open, thereby obviatmg the necessity of securinghooks or the like to retain the movable section in the'position to whichit has been'adjusted.

To this end, myinvention consists, substantially, in the construction,combination and arrangement of parts, as will be hereinafter more fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawingsFigure 1 is aperspective view of a combined chair andstep-ladder embodying my invention and illustrating the same closed foruse as a chair. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the device opened foruse as a step-ladder. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal sectional viewof Fig. 1.

Corresponding parts in all the figures are denoted by the same lettersof reference.

Heretofore in the construction of combined chairs and step-=ladders, ithas been customary 7 to divide the base into two vertical sections,hinged together, one of said sections forming a part of the movable orfolding section. But such construction is open to the objection that itis necessary to employ hooks or other securing means to render thedevice stable when used as a chair or step-ladder, or both.

The main object of my invention is to entirely overcome this objection,and to produce a combined chair and step-ladder which will perfectlyretain its position either as a chair or step-ladder, without the use ofsecuringme'ans to connect the stationary and movable sections together.1

Referring to the drawings, A designates the base or stationary sectionwhich is of a depth equal to the full depth of the device when closed,and comprises four legs, a, the legs of each side being connected butspaced a distance apart at their upper ends by a crosspiece, a. Belowthe latter are two or more horizontal cross-pieces, b b, connecting thelegs of either side, and upon said cross-pieces b are securedstep-boards,B. The step-boards are arranged with the lowermost onenearest the back of the base A and the remainder nearer to the front ofthe latter in successive order. The cross-pieces a and b, and thestep-boards all tendto securely brace the legs, and in addition thereto,rungs, a connecting the front legs, may be provided;

0 designates the movable section, which comprises two parallel bars, 0c, of a length corresponding to the full height of the device whenclosed or open and having their ends curved outward. Midway between theends of these bars is secured the rear edge of a seat, D, the latterbeing of a depth corresponding to the depth of the upper end of the baseA. The seat is located at right angles to the plane of the bars 0, andfrom its under side, at the ends of its forward edge, project two shortbars, e e. The latter are connected at their outer ends with the bars 0by side cross-pieces, E E, and above said cross-pieces are provided twoor more horizontal arms, F, projecting from the bars a, and parallelwith the crosspieces E. The arms F decrease in length from the lowerpair upwardly, and are supported by spindles or arms, f, secured betweentheir outer ends and the next lower arms, or the cross-pieces E.

Upon the cross-pieces E and the arms F are secured step-boards, G, soarranged that when the folding section is open the step-boards G form acontinuation of the step-boards B, with the forward portion of thebottom of the seat serving as an intermediate step. The back of thechair is completed by providing crosspieces, H, connecting the freeportions of the bars a.

In order to properly connect the stationary and movoble sectionstogether, the seat is provided at the forward ends of its side edgeswith outwardly-projecting pins, I I, which are preferably formedintegral with the front strip of the seat. These pins are disposed inbearing apertures, 41 2', provided .through the upper front corners ofthe base A;

The operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understoodby those skilled in the art to which it appertains.

When the device is folded as a chair, the lower half of the movablesection is entirely contained within the space between the fixed rearlegs of the stationary section, with the step-boards of the two sectionsresting re spectively one upon the other. When a stepladder is desired,the back of the chair is thrown forwardly into the position shown inFig. 2, when the distal portion of the movable section is supported bythe bars 0.

It will be obvious, that owing to the construction which insures to thestationary section a depth equal to the entire depth of the bottom whenfolded, a greater degree of stability is insured, and without the'use ofhooks or other securing means.

The article is simple in construction, and manufactured entirely ofwood, the use of metal bolts or the like being also entirely dispensedwith.

The outward or rearward curve of the back when opened provides a deep orlong floorbase for the device, similar to that possessed by the ordinarstep-ladder and thereby promotes great stability, and renderingunnecsary any kind of stay rods, looks or catches, thus relieving thechair of useless manipulations as well as useless weight.

I have found the chair to be really more steady and solid than the usualstep-ladder is, and it is therefore safer especially for ladies.

Myimproved device, when it is folded bears so close a resemblance to anordinary chair, that on casual notice a diiference would not beobserved, so that its presence in any room would not be in the slightestdegree objectionable.

By spacing apart the upper ends of the two legs forming each side of thebase, by means of horizontal bars, said sides act as a protecmas-re tionto the back of the movable section when the device is used as a chair,and when used as a step-ladder the rear upper corners of these sidesproject as arms which may be conveniently grasped by the operator inascending the ladder.

I claim as my invention- 1. In a combined chair and step ladder, thecombination, with a rigid base comprising two fixed sides composed eachof two legs spaced apart at the top and connected by steps, of a movablesection provided with steps and with a back and a seat, said movablesection being pivotally connected with said base, and the back thereofadapted when closed to be contained between and protected by said fixedsides; substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a combined chair and step-ladder, the combination, with a base, A,comprising legs, a, the legs of each side being spaced a distance apartbut connected at their upper ends by a horizontal crosspiece, a, andsteps, B, connecting the side sections of the base, said side sectionsbeing provided with apertures, t' t', at their forward upper corners, ofa movable section, O, comprising two bars, 0 c, a seat, D, secured atits rear edge midway between the ends of said bars, and provided at theforward ends of its side edges with projecting pins, I I, adapted tobear in the apertures 1', said seat being unbroken and of a depthapproximately corresponding to the depth of the upper end of the base,and steps, G, carried by said movable section; substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM IIARGRAVE \VHI'IE.

\Vitnesses:

C. J. WARNER, Jr., R. R. HARRIS, Jr.

